Mission Statement

The mission of Dentonia Park United Church is to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ to our community. We will provide people of all races and ages with the opportunity to worship and to reach out to one another and the world in faith and fellowship.

 

Welcome Everyone!

Welcome to our website. DPUC is the member church of The United Church of Canada located at East York region in the city of Toronto. We launch the cyber ministry to reach out to the end of the world through global network. We are friendly, familial and welcoming congregation which is full of energy through the fellowship of Christ. We strive to build the community that is comfortable and safe place for those who want to settle in Canada as a new immigrants, or those who need pastoral care from us.

 

We welcome every one of you to have fellowship, and together, to reach out to our community and to the world. We are, in one way or the other, with wounded heart by broken relationship with people and with God. We need healing and reconciliation. Although we are weak, together we can work towards the wholeness of life. Your joining with us may change the community and the world.

  

 

We believe that the church is the gathering of God's people. We also believe that the church should change as the world changes, and especially as the new comers joining in faith journey. This is another area we take pride in that we are - a changing community.  This means that your joining in to our faith journey can make you a part of DPUC's history. Our church's history defines "who we are." Your presence, participation and contribution of your unique gifts will build and shape our church as the gathering of God's people.

 

  

 

That is not all.  Your face, skin colour, hairstyle and fashion add on to the shape of our church, too.  Important part of our church life is that we continuously create God's story in our daily lives as we explore the Scriptures and experience individual's being touched by God. We believe that God is with all of us. When we look back our lives, we realize that God has been with every one of us, whether we are aware of it or not. We help each other discover and create God's presense in our lives and celebrate it.

 

 

 

DPUC shares the ministry with all the church members and with Rev. John Young-Jung Lee who has been truly blessed with spiritual guidance. John does not exercise strong visible leadership. However we can find him wherever and whenever we need him. John was ordained by the United Church of Canada in 1996 and served this community since then.  His honesty, sincerity and humour with integrity are valued and used most for our ministry together.  

 

Rev. John Lee has B. Sc., majored in architecture in Seoul National University; Master of Divinity at Emmanuel College in University of Toronto; and had continued in the Advanced Degree Program towards Doctorate in Systematic Theology in the Toronto School of Theology within the University of Toronto. John is deeply interested and committed in the ministry of reconciliation and healing in our culturally diverse Church. He is open to any theological discussion and to conversation on the questions  arose from the scripture reading.

 

Who Are We? 

DPUC is the gathering of people as the church of Christ who gather at the community of East York, Toronto. Our service to/for/with the world means to search the meaning of what it means "to be with" the world which God created and still creates, and loves so much. The special gift we have is friendliness with welcoming spirit. We care for each other and serves the community with our caring heart. Our faith journey is based on the opportunities for worship, fellowship, services for all ages, and a variety of small group meetings of learning and sharing. Everyone at DPUC is encouraged to become involved in any events in our church life.

 

 

                Brandy serving at Turkey Dinner           Baptism for Nicole Wilson                          

 

We are the people who experience healing and transforming through the shared life of DPUC. They are Sunday worship service, Wednesday Healing prayer service, and many other small group gatherings that we form by member's request; Anual pancake dinner, spagettee dinnier, rummage sale and bazaars. Through these events we strive to build trusting relationship with God and with people. We believe that the inter-subjective mutual respecting relationship is the foundation of fellowship that enables us to reach out to the world with justice, reconciliation and healing.

 

          

           Sunday school pagent                                     At Jay's returning to Korea         

 

We welcome new comers who need comfortable and safe place within the neighbouring community, and at the same time, we also welcome the people around the world who are committed to serve voluntarily through the church.

 

DPUC is a member church of The United Church of Canada which is Canada's largest protestant denomination with over 3 million confirmed members and adherents. Formed in 1925 through the union of Canadian Methodists, Congregationlaists and 70% of Canadian Presbyterians, the United Church can be found in all parts of Canada except for rural Quebec. We were united and still uniting as the people of God.   

 

 

The United Church of Canada is organized into 13 regional conferences, 94 district presbyteries, 2,413 local pastoral charges, and 3,909 individual congregations. We are one of those congregations, one of the local pastoral charges (which can sometimes be up to three or four congregations), and we belong to the Don Valley Presbytery which is a member of the Toronto Conference.

 

DPUC will celebrate 84th anniversary November, 2008  of providing worship services and a place to meet for the residents of the community. We are hoping, through the fellowship of Christ, "to be with" the people of our community and all the friends who visit this website. We are confident that our faithful commitment will become a seed that will grow into a large tree of "shalom" in this new era.

 

Location

 

For the church's location, please click the map above.

 

Committees to Work With

As we emphasize in the mission statement, we find joy in working together with the people of all diverse culture and traditions and ages, and enjoy reaching out to one another and to the world in faith with fellowship of Christ. Here are working groups you can join in anytime.

 

 

MINISTRY & PERSONNEL COMMITTEE

  • Chairperson: Marlene Mintz
  • Helen Fraser, TBA

The final goal of the M&P committee is to support ministry. The duties of the Committee are to provide a consultative and supportive agency for the staff of the Pastoral Charge and for members and Adherents of the Congregation; to review work conditions and remuneration for the staff of the Pastoral Charge and make appropriate recommendations to the Church Council; to oversee the relationship of the staff of the Pastoral Charge to members of the Congregation and others; to consult with the staff of the Pastoral Charge about their plans for continuing education and ensure that those eligible avail themselves of the provisions for continuing education and that money and time are made available; to review and evaluate annually the effectiveness of the staff of the Pastoral Charge as those persons and positions relate tot the mission of the Pastoral Charge as defined by the church Council; to maintain close liaison with the Presbytery Pastoral Relations Committee; and to review regularly the responsibilities of all staff of the Pastoral Charge and revise position descriptions when required or requested.

 

PROPERTY COMMITTEE
  • Chairperson: Harold Buchanan
  • John Strange, Barbara Mintz
     
MUSIC & WORSHIP COMMITTEE
  • Chairperson: Estella Green
  • Marlene Mintz, Marion Current, Helen Fraser, Barbara Edwards

Worship is a celebration of God's presense in the midst of our lives. The most succinct definition of worship is "Gottest dienst" which means God's service to people and people's service to God. Worship is an outward expression of our innermost feelings about God and is the offering we make to God in response to God's love and grace. It is also an event that we experience the grace of God and presence of the living Christ in the midst of the congregation. All the activities of the worship focuses on "transformation" of the self into the children of God. Therefore the overall function of the worship committee is to enable this understanding of worship to be realized in worship services.

 

Membership

Members of the order of ministry; Members of the church as appropriate individuals interested in the baptismal, communion or other life of the community; Organist, choir director and other church musicians;. Representatives of the UCW, Christian Development Committee and Sunday School as appropriate.

 

Chair person's responsibilities will include:

Becoming well informed on the organization of the United Church of Canada and our local congregation; understanding the purpose, function, and responsibilities of the Worship Committee; presiding at regular meetings of the committee; planning the agenda of the meetings in consultation with the Minister and church staff; seeing that members are informed of meetings and receive minutes and reports; guiding the committee so that it deals with its specific responsibilities; guiding adequate discussion on issues, and then enable the committee to make clear decision, including designating necessary responsibilities; presenting necessary work area recommendations to the Church Council for review, approval, and coordination; following through on committee actions by checking with those who have been assigned responsibilities for implementing them; taking advantage of any training experience related to worship and encourage other persons working in this area to do the same.

 

General responsibilities of the Worship Committee are:

As a committee, having a working knowledge of the various traditions of worship, including our own denomination; to develope ways to aid our total congregation in becoming increasingly aware of the purpose and meaning of worship; to encourage the study of the Christian year and use it in ordering various aspects of worship throughout the year; to review and evaluate the order and content of congregational worship; to identifying worship needs of all age levels and groups of our church and seek ways to develop meaningful worship opportunities; to care for music, ushering and elements of sacrament for corporate worship; to share with the minister(s) the planning and administration for the Sacraments of Baptism and Communion; to develop and monitor policies regarding baptism and marriage; to oversee the administration of the sacraments; to ensure appropriate use of the church edifice, the symbols and furnishings as well as the church   worship materials; to encourage an emphasis on worship in the children and youth divisions; to encourage a wider use and understanding of both visual and dramatic arts in the proclamation of the Gospel; to ealuate that the concerns of worship are reflected in all program ministries of the church; to work cooperatively with other committee to develop programs in which there is mutual concern and responsibilities; to develope a budget and submitting it to the Church Council; to provide pulpit supply, as necessary by consultation with the minister; together with the ministerial staff and in consultation with the musical personnel, to plan and coordinate the musical program of he church services; to celebrate the admission of persons into full membership, their removal and the granting of certificates of transfer as well as the conduct of members with power to exercise discipline; to recommend to Presbytery suitable lay members to be licensed as Lay Preachers or to be candidates for the ministry; (all committees) to promote fellowship within the congregation

 

Expectation from the church and staff:

Training opportunities that will help you learn needed skills which will help you become more effective in your leadership;support, consultation, and assistance in carrying out your responsibilities; an open ear and channel to those charged with the responsibilities in service well done; an appreciation for your willingness and dedication in service well done.

 

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION COMMITTEE
  • Chairperson: Barbara Mintz
  • Leslie Beaune, Claudia Green, Marlene Mintz, Sheila Young

Christian Education Committee is responsible for planning and direction of the total Christian education program of the congregation. The duties of the Committee shall be to study the educational needs of the Congregation and to provide leadership so that all persons at each stage of their lives may know God as revealed in Jesus Christ and serve God in love through the worship and work, fellowship and witness of the church; to study the curriculum and program materials for Christian education recommended for use within the United Church.

 

PASTORAL CARE COMMITTEE
  • Chairperson: Helen Fraser
  • Cindy Pitts, Mary Strange
     
FINANCE COMMITTEE
  • Chairperson:  Claudia Green
  • Helen Fraser, Neeka Morris, Donna Sinclair
     

TRUSTEES

  • John Strange, Helen Fraser, Marlene Mintz, Claudia Green
     
CHURCH COUNCIL
  • Chair: Marlene Mintz; Vice Chair: Helen Fraser
  • Chairs of Committees: Harold Buchanan (Property), Estella Green (Worship and Music), Barbara Mintz (Christian Education), Helen Fraser (Pastoral Care), Marlene Mintz (M&P)
  • Lay Delegate to Presbytery: Barbara Edwards
  • Treasurer: Helen Fraser
  • Recording Secretary: Estella Green
  • Envelope Secretary: Donna SinClair 
  • Ordered Minister: Rev. John Young-Jung Lee,
  • Diaconal Minister: Marion Current (Retired)

 

 

 

Web planning team: Marion Current,

Digital animation & art design: HuRAC Design

Technical support: David Nam-Joong Kim

Updated July 26, 2010